Small Pox. 141 



of the 1 2th of April we bade a final adieu to the Patagonian 

 Channels. 



During our passage northwards along the Chilian coast, sea- 

 birds of various kinds hovered round us. Of these our most 

 constant companions were the Cape pigeons (Dapteon Capensis), 

 albatrosses of two species (Diomedea fuliginosa and D. Melano- 

 phrys), a small storm-petrel {Oceanites grallarid), a Fulmar petrel 

 (Thallasaca glacialoides) y and a white- breasted petrel (CEstrelata 

 defippiand). A brown skua (Lestris antarcticd) appeared on the 

 scene now and then, creating consternation among the smaller 

 petrels. 



We arrived at Talcahuano, one of the most interesting of the 

 Chilian ports, on the morning of the 20th of April, and were 

 surprised and grieved to hear that a severe epidemic of small 

 pox prevailed at the town of Concepcion, some nine miles inland. 

 The epidemic had begun in January, and we were informed by 

 Mr. Elton, the British Vice-Consul, that since then no less than 

 1,500 deaths had occurred, the mortality of those attacked having 

 been at the extraordinarily high rate of 90 per cent. Ominous 

 rumours reaching us as to the epidemic having already extended 

 to Talcahuano, our stay was wisely cut short, and the vessel was 

 moved on to Valparaiso, and subsequently after a short stay to 

 Coquimbo. 



The passage from Valparaiso to Coquimbo occupied two days. 

 As we were sitting at dinner on the evening of the 3rd of May, 

 the officer of the watch reported that the ship was moving through 

 patches of light-coloured stuff resembling shoal water. On going 

 on deck, we saw wavy bands of straw-coloured water, about one 

 hundred yards in length by twenty in width, which were plainly 

 visible through the gloom of the night, the light-coloured patches 

 having distinctly circumscribed margins, which showed out clearly 

 against the surrounding dark water. At the same time, the sea 

 in our wake was brilliantly phosphorescent. On plying the tow- 

 net for a few minutes, I obtained a quantity of entomostracous 



